TY - JOUR

T1 - Screening for postnatal depression - is it acceptable to women and healthcare professionals? A systematic review and meta-synthesis

AU - Brealey, Stephen D.

AU - Hewitt, Catherine

AU - Green, Josephine M.

AU - Morrell, Jane

AU - Gilbody, Simon

PY - 2010/11

Y1 - 2010/11

N2 - Postnatal depression (PND) impacts on the mother and her partner, the family, mother-baby interaction and on the baby. This review synthesises the evidence from qualitative and quantitative research to determine whether screening for PND is acceptable to women and healthcare professionals. The research literature was systematically searched to retrieve articles available until February 2007. No language or geographical restrictions were applied. Studies were included if the acceptability of PND screening was assessed during the prenatal and postnatal period. Data were synthesised using the textual narrative approach. Fifteen of the 16 eligible studies focused on the acceptability of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Screening for PND was generally found to be acceptable to women and healthcare professionals, although aspects of its administration were identified as being important. Specifically, a woman needs to feel comfortable about the screening process if she is to answer the questions honestly. This may be facilitated through forewarning and administration by a trusted person in her own home. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of differing cultural attitudes towards answering the questions, and the ambiguity of the question about self-harm. Further research into the acceptability of strategies other than EPDS is needed.

AB - Postnatal depression (PND) impacts on the mother and her partner, the family, mother-baby interaction and on the baby. This review synthesises the evidence from qualitative and quantitative research to determine whether screening for PND is acceptable to women and healthcare professionals. The research literature was systematically searched to retrieve articles available until February 2007. No language or geographical restrictions were applied. Studies were included if the acceptability of PND screening was assessed during the prenatal and postnatal period. Data were synthesised using the textual narrative approach. Fifteen of the 16 eligible studies focused on the acceptability of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Screening for PND was generally found to be acceptable to women and healthcare professionals, although aspects of its administration were identified as being important. Specifically, a woman needs to feel comfortable about the screening process if she is to answer the questions honestly. This may be facilitated through forewarning and administration by a trusted person in her own home. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of differing cultural attitudes towards answering the questions, and the ambiguity of the question about self-harm. Further research into the acceptability of strategies other than EPDS is needed.

KW - Postnatal depression

KW - screening

KW - acceptability

KW - systematic review

KW - meta-synthesis

KW - QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

KW - SCALE

KW - IMPACT

KW - CHILDBIRTH

KW - PREVALENCE

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649453949&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/02646838.2010.513045

DO - 10.1080/02646838.2010.513045

M3 - Literature review

VL - 28

SP - 328

EP - 344

JO - Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology

JF - Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology

SN - 0264-6838

IS - 4

ER -